(5) What was the worst time you ever had as a nurse?
That's an easy one.
Within five years of graduating, I found myself in the head nurse position of a 250 bed hospital in a mid-sized, beach front town in Florida........AND A HURRICANE WAS HEADED OUR WAY.
When everyone else in town was evacuating to safer ground, I and my three kids aged 5, 3 and 1, were moving into the hospital for an "extended stay". I was divorced at the time and there was no other way.
After three days of 24 hour shifts tending to patients, and not-so-patient children, we returned to a home that was only slightly damaged. And I had exactly six hours before I was expected back at the hospital.
If you're going to be a nurse, get used to being on call, working holidays and weekends and just "being there" when needed.
(6) Any advice for nursing students?
Just the obvious.........STUDY AND LEARN. And I mean really LEARN. What you are studying could someday save a life.
(7) I'm a man. Should I consider a nursing career?
I don't know you personally so this answer has to be very general.
But, I will say that many men make wonderful nurses. Caring and nurturing are not strictly female characteristics by any means. Some of the best nurses I have known have been men.
And as sexist as it may sound, your physical strength is often a tremendous benefit.